Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Cody Johnson win big at the CMA Awards

Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson and Luke Combs were the big winners at the Country Music Awards gala Wednesday night in Nashville.

Wilson was deemed New Artist of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, while Stapleton won the statuette for Male Vocalist of the Year.

Luke Combs won for Entertainer of the Year and his record Growin' Up was voted Album of the Year.

Cody Johnson earned the accolade for Single of the Year for "Till You Can't."

Earlier in the day, Johnson won the Video of the Year title for the same song.

Old Dominion won the prize for Vocal Group of the Year, fiddle player Fleenor was named Musician of the Year Wednesday evening, while the Brothers Osborne were declared Vocal Duo of the Year and songwriters Jacob Davis, Jordan Davis, Josh Jenkins and Matt Jenkins shared the award for Song of the Year for "Buy Dirt."

The Musical Event of the Year was bestowed upon Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde for "Never Wanted to be that Girl" hours before the broadcast.

Country music star Luke Bryan and retired football star Peyton Manning co-hosted the event, which is airing on ABC.

Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert opened the show with a tribute to the late Loretta Lynn, who died on Oct. 4 at the age 90.

The artists performed a medley of several of Lynn's hits, including "You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take My Man)," "Don't Come Home a-Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind,)" "You're Lookin' at Country" and "Coal Miner's Daughter."

Memorable performances included collaborations between Thomas Rhett and Katy Perry; Kelsea Ballerini, Kelly Clarkson and Carly Pearce; Brothers Osborne and The War and Treaty; Hardy and Lainey Wilson; Elle King and The. Black Keys; and Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti and John Osborne.